255
5089
Treasury,
Whitehall, RE FEB16)
29th January 1916.
gir,
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H.W.Just'a letter of the 14th instant (No.766/1916), with reference to mo
the permission given to the London Branch of the Tresdner Bank to sell certain goods brought forward to Hongkong in a neutral ship from a neutral port, where they had been lying in an enemy steamship since the outbreak of war and enquiring how, in my opinion, the balance, if any, should be applied.
A difficulty no doubt arises in seizing enemy goods in a neutral ship, but the practice which has been followed in this Country is to require the Bank to pay over any balance which may remain in its hands to the Procurator General for lodgment in Court for account of whom it may concern, and I would suggest that this course should be adopted in this case, and that the money should be transmitted to this Department for payment into the Prize Court in this Country.
A question will, no doubt, arise hereafter as to its ultimate disposal, but this is a matter which migat receive further consideration when it becomes necessary.
The Under Secretary of State,
COLONIAL OFFICE,
S.V.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
A. H. Vermi's.